Unexpected Gifts: (The Steamy Version) (A Castle Mountain Lodge Romance Series Book 1) (11 page)

“And then there won’t be any more excuses,” he said.

She opened her mouth before realizing she didn’t have any protests. She closed her mouth and blew him a kiss before turning and running down the hall to her own room.

Colin moved quickly through the halls of the main Lodge. Andi had put him in charge of making sure the party room was set up properly and he wanted to be certain that it was perfect. She was really excited about planning the Holly Berry Ball, which felt like a big deal since up until a few days before, she hadn’t wanted anything to do with Christmas. Besides, it was a total turn-on to see her in her party planning element.

By the time he got to the banquet room, most of the work had already been done. Buffet tables had been set up in two stations. Andi told him the food would be mostly children’s finger food, with a few selections for the parents thrown in. Traditionally, the ball had catered mostly to adults, which she said was ridiculous since the Lodge was filled with families for Christmas. She wanted to make it more fun for the kids. Every time Andi mentioned children, she got a sad, distant look in her eyes. He’d noticed it when they met Kirk and his family at the pond but there was something else going on there too. Something she hadn’t told him yet.

Colin wove through the tables and chairs, checking that everything had been positioned according to the hand-drawn plan Andi had given him. There were small stages set up throughout the space that would hold minor performances throughout the night. Everything looked just as it should.

“So, what do you think?” a woman’s voice said. Colin turned and saw a tall, striking blonde, with a body to rival any he’d seen on the Caribbean beaches. “You must be Colin,” she said, and thrust her hand out.

He took her hand and shook it, realization dawning. “And you must be Eva.”

“How did you know?” She put her hands to her chest in mock surprise before laughing.

“How on earth did you get here so fast?” he asked.

“Let me tell you, Colin. When I have somewhere to be, I get there. I like to think that I drive with purpose.”

He laughed along with her. She was an easy woman to be around and it wasn’t a stretch to see why she was in the party planning business. “Have you seen Andi yet?” he asked. “She sent me to check on the room, but honestly, I don’t really know what I’m doing.”

Eva started walking and gestured for Colin to follow, which he did. “She has you working already, does she? Well, the room looks great. The staff here are total pros. When Andi told me about organizing the ball last minute, I was worried. But I think with a staff like this, I could pull off any event in only two days. This is amazing. And you should have seen how professional they were when I gave them the costumes.”

“Costumes?”

“Andi didn’t tell you?” She glanced at him. “It’ll be a surprise then.” She adjusted chairs as she moved through the room, talking non-stop. “You know, Colin, I don’t know what you did to her, but she was dead set against Christmas this year. After everything she’s gone through the past few months…” Eva trailed off, shaking her head.

“What do you—“

“Anyway,” she cut him off as if he hadn’t spoken, “I think she would have skipped the holiday altogether if she could have. But after only a few days with you, she’s ready to plan the biggest Christmas party around.”

What had Andi gone through in the last year? Colin’s mind whirled. She hadn’t mentioned anything besides breaking it off with Blaine. Had the breakup been that bad? The anger for his old friend flared up again.

Eva stopped walking and stared at him. “You must be pretty special.” She was smiling, but there was something else behind it. A warning played in her eyes and her voice.

Colin didn’t know what to say, so he didn’t say anything at all.

“Speaking of Andi.” She started talking again, her tone light once more. “I need to find her. I have a million things to go over. Do you have everything under control in here?”

Colin shrugged. “I think I can handle it.”

“Good.” Eva winked at him and turned to leave. “I’ll see you later, Santa.”

Santa?

“Wait, what do you mean, Santa?” he called after her, but she’d already left the room.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“How about a break?” Eva said, as she opened yet another bag of candy.

Andi wiped her forehead with her wrist and moved to the next bowl. She’d been pouring peppermints into glass vases for twenty minutes, and they still had more to go.

“I don’t think we have time for a break,” Andi said. “But go ahead. You’ve been working non-stop for days, plus you drove up here this morning and it’s—“

“I meant you,” she said. “Besides, we need a Christmas tree. Maybe you can go get one.”

“We have a tree, in the lobby.”

“And that, my dear, is the problem,” Eva said. “The lobby has a tree, but the party doesn’t. Now go find that yummy mountain man and get us a tree.”

Andi shot her a look that said,
do not bother me with this right now
. Eva ignored it. “Seriously, Andi, he’s gorgeous. And he’s crazy about you.”

“He is not,” she protested, but secretly she was hoping for her friend to disagree with her. “Besides, what would make you say that?” Andi turned so Eva couldn’t see the smile that took over her face.

“You can drop the act anytime. I’m not falling for it. Besides, anyone can see it.” Eva grabbed her arm to spin her around. “I mean really, here it is Christmas Eve and he’s in the banquet room with a plan you gave him, ordering around the staff to make sure everything is perfect for you. Of course he’s crazy about you. I think he deserves a break, too. Go find him.”

Andi grabbed a bag of jujubes and started filling a new vase. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know about Colin, or about taking a break?”

Andi stopped what she was doing and stared at her friend. “Both.”

“No way,” Eva said. “That’s a cop-out and I’m not going to accept it. Andi, it’s been months since Blaine left. You need to get back out there.”

“I am out there.” Andi picked up a jujube and stuck it in her mouth.

Her friend raised her eyebrow but didn’t say anything else for a moment.

“Do we have any more of these?” Andi said with a mouthful. She held up the empty bag and Eva swiped it out of her hand.

“That’s enough,” she snapped. “Don’t insult me by pretending that this guy doesn’t mean anything to you. I’ve known you too long.”

Andi risked a glance up at her friend and saw Eva’s normally smiling face twisted into a frown. “I…he…” she started.

“Tell me,” Eva demanded.

“I don’t want to get hurt again.” The words came out in a rush. “He’s not the relationship type and I thought I could just do a fling. I even tried.”

“You tried?”

“I did.” Andi sank down into an empty chair. “But at the last minute I came up with this ‘no sex on the first date’ thing. So we cuddled all night instead.”

Eva swallowed back a laugh. “For real?”

Andi shot her a glare. “Well, I used to have that rule. Once.” She swallowed hard. “I got scared.” She wouldn’t look up. Andi knew if she made eye contact with Eva, her friend would know just how scared she really was. It had taken a long time to get over Blaine, or more accurately, his desertion when she needed him.

“Andi.” Eva’s voice was soft and she crouched in front of her. “You don’t have to sign up for forever right now.”

“You don’t understand,” Andi said, finally looking up. “He’s not into relationships. He’s more or less spelled it out for me.”

Hot tears stung at her eyes and she blinked hard to keep them away. She would not cry. Not over a guy she barely knew.

“Here,” Eva said. She thrust a bag of chocolate into Andi’s lap.

“What’s this for?”

“Well, since you’re being stupid, you might as well eat yourself into a chocolate coma too.”

Eva turned and walked back to the counter and the endless vases that needed to be filled. Andi pushed up from the chair and stalked after her. “What are you talking about? I’m not being stupid.”

Eva spun, confronting her. “Oh no? Here you are crying like a little girl instead of taking a look at the facts.”

“What facts?”

“Andi,” Eva said, struggling to keep her voice even. “This man who you say is a relationshiphobe is currently working his tail off for you and all this after spending the night cuddling with you because you didn’t want to have sex. The way I see it, that man is seriously into you and you are being an idiot.”

“I am not.” Andi knew she sounded childish, but at that moment she didn’t care. She popped a chocolate into her mouth and chewed hard.

“Then prove it.” Eva’s eyes gleamed with challenge. “Go find Colin and get a Christmas tree.”

Andi tossed the bag of chocolates down on the counter. “Fine.”

As she left the room, she could hear Eva laughing as she called out, “Just be back in time for the party.”

Colin reflexively put his arm out to brace Andi as the truck bounced over yet another rut in the road. He hadn’t driven in deep snow for years, and the way the truck was working, he was starting to worry that his lack of experience might get them into a little trouble if he wasn’t careful.

“Sorry. This road is terrible.”

“I’m fine,” she said. Andi’s hands were gripped on the door as she tried to keep from flying out of her seat. “Are you sure you know where you’re going?” She bit her lip like she hadn’t wanted to ask the question.

“Are you suggesting that I’m lost?” he teased.

Andi shot him a look before shading her eyes with her hand again. The sun was shining bright overhead, causing a sharp glare on the snow, making it difficult to see. “I wasn’t trying to offend you. I know men are touchy about asking for directions. I just thought—“

“It’s okay, Andi. I was kidding.” He smiled at her and reached over to squeeze her thigh. She’d been distracted and distant since they’d been in the truck. At first, he’d thought she was just nervous about his driving, but the longer they spent together, the more he could sense something was bugging her. “Besides,” he said, trying to lighten the mood. “I know exactly where I’m going. Look.” He held up a piece of paper with some roughly drawn lines. The guys in the maintenance garage who’d lent him the truck had drawn it for him.

Andi grabbed the paper and stared at it in horror. “Colin, you can’t be serious. This is the map?”

He laughed and pointed to the paper. “Don’t worry so much,” he said. Colin slowed the truck and waited until she met his eyes. “Everything will work out.” She blinked hard and looked away.

“I promise.” He revved up the engine again. The truck went over a particularly large bump, bouncing Andi towards him on the bench seat. In a quick move, he wrapped his right arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. “I think this is a good spot, don’t you?”

He put the truck in park and when she snuggled deeper into his down coat, Colin seriously considered driving again, just so she would stay close. It was probably the party distracting her all afternoon, but whatever it was that had been pulling her away, for the moment at least, it was gone.

Andi didn’t say anything, but neither did she make a move to get out of the truck. “Everything alright, Andi?” he asked and kissed the top of her head.

She pulled away slightly and said, “Of course. I was just thinking about how much I was enjoying this right now.”

“Me too.” He smiled and reached across the distance to put a soft kiss on her lips. “But we better get that tree so we can get to that second date.”

“Right,” she said. “Let’s do this.” Andi smiled and licked her lips. It was a subconscious action, but Colin almost grabbed her and had that second date with her right in the cab of the truck.

Instead, he snatched his gloves off the seat, pushed open the door and jumped out of the cab. The snow was deeper than it looked and as soon as they stepped off the packed down track of the road, they sank in, Andi—her legs substantially shorter than Colin’s—almost to her knees. Fortunately, they didn’t have to go far to find the perfect tree. The forest was thick and they were surrounded by thick, full pines, any of which would make a beautiful tree for the party.

“Have you ever done this before?” she asked Colin.

He walked next to her, trudging through the snow with an ax swung over his shoulder. He glanced at Andi, who looked very sexy in her oversized wool sweater and scarf.

“I remember years ago going with my dad into the woods,” he said. “The plan was to chop down the perfect tree to surprise my mom. She always liked the big fir trees that you could buy in the parking lot of the grocery store.”

“My parents always got one of those,” Andi said. “They were always like a hundred dollars.”

“Exactly,” Colin said. “So one year, my dad got it in his head to prove to my mom that he could get an equally beautiful tree out of the forest. You have to understand, my mom loved her Christmas trees. It was the most important part of the holiday for her. So it had to be perfect.”

“Okay.” Andi smiled, encouraging him to go on. “So how did it go?”

“I must have been about eight or nine,” he said. “And I remember driving and driving. After what seemed like hours, we got out of the truck and started walking, kind of like we’re doing now. My feet were totally numb when Dad finally decided we’d found the perfect spot.”

“And you got a great tree?”

“Well, no.” Colin laughed. “That’s the thing. The place we went had really spindly trees, but instead of admitting defeat, Dad chopped down three trees.”

“Three?”

“Yup, then he lashed them all together and tried to pass it off as one, very full pine.”

Andi laughed and almost stumbled in the deep snow. Colin caught her easily and steadied her. A jolt went through him at the touch. “What did your mom say?” Her voice came out in a breath. He thought it might be from the hard walking, but he hoped it wasn’t.

Colin stopped walking, but didn’t let go of her arm. “I think she knew, but she never said anything. Not even when we took it down after Boxing Day. She just looked away and said something about it being the most beautiful tree we’d ever had.”

“That’s so sweet.”